REVIEW by Dolly: Rattleman by George D. Shuman (@fidget78)

The Rattleman knows every crevice, every creek, every cave, every ravine, every inch of his remote hunting grounds in the Appalachian Mountains.

He is a determined serial killer, always waiting for his next victim to cross his path.

When Park Ranger Jane Cameron literally stumbles across the remains of two of his victims, she discovers that she too has been caught in his trap.

And when the ‘Rattleman’s prey is at his mercy, she’s dead.

I previously reviewed a novel in Mr. Shuman’s Sherry Moore series (18 Seconds). As I was wondering if any more books were planned in that series, I contacted Mr. Shuman though his website. Since then, I check in with him every once in a while to see if he has anything new coming out for his fans. He gave me a heads up on The Rattleman. (Currently available in Kindle versions and coming out in other formats around the first of May).

I sincerely enjoy Mr Shuman’s writing style. None of his novels so far have been quick reads. They are intricately woven together and sometimes you wonder, “where is he going with this?” or “why do I need all this detail?”. That’s one of the main reasons I enjoy his work. He keeps you guessing just enough that you WANT to continue reading.

Rattleman is a prime example. It seemed like I was reading three different stories, one about Drug Enforcement Agent Judy Wells and her situation, Sheriff Martin (Marty) and his back story and then there’s The Rattleman. Having read this author before, I knew there was a good reason and of course, there was. Everything ties together without feeling contrived. The three different stories give the background on the main characters and then they merge seamlessly for the “main story”. Mr. Shuman’s descriptions are unbelievable. Having spent some time in the mountains around Eastern Kentucky and Tennessee, his scene descriptions are spot on. Actually, it was so well written, it made me homesick.

This dark thriller kept me entertained for several days. I will say I couldn’t read this in one sitting. As I mentioned, it’s intricate and detailed. I needed time to let the story settle. Once the different parts merged, I couldn’t stop!